When Abby campaigned for School Board in 2007, she promised to focus on the ABC’s of school success: achievement, budget and community. During her first term, the School Board has:
Enhanced student achievement by:
- Adding pre-K classes to serve more students;
- Expanding foreign language opportunities;
- Adding math and gifted resource teachers;
- Providing more resources for elementary school art supplies;
- Promoting the assets model to reduce risky behavior, strengthen relationships and increase parental involvement; and
- Enhancing nutrition with healthier school meals.
Made sound budget decisions that effectively and efficiently support student achievement by:
- Reducing administrative costs;
- Engaging in efficiency reviews and strengthening fiscal oversight;
- Enhancing long-term planning with a three-year budget forecast;
- Increasing reserves to properly fund teacher and staff retirement benefits;
- Saving tens of millions of dollars with prudent capital planning; and
- Increasing the transparency of the budget process.
Served the needs of the entire Arlington community by:
- Amending APS policy to facilitate community use of school buildings;
- Working cooperatively with the community in capital planning for Wakefield and Yorktown High Schools, Jefferson Middle School, and other critical school projects;
- Enhancing meaningful participation by citizen advisory groups;
- Increasing collaboration and communication with County officials;
- Actively seeking community input about the budget and strategic plan; and
- Recognizing the importance of our environmental stewardship.
